BritainBritain AmericansAmericans

Adv.Adv.

•Strong, well trained Strong, well trained army & navyarmy & navy•Superior line Superior line officersofficers•Loyalist & Indian Loyalist & Indian AlliesAllies

•Home turfHome turf•Superior weapons & Superior weapons & marksmenmarksmen•Inspired CauseInspired Cause

Disadv.Disadv.

•3,000 miles3,000 miles•Unfamiliar Unfamiliar battlefrontsbattlefronts•Weak military Weak military leaders in commandleaders in command

•Untrained, undisciplined Untrained, undisciplined troopstroops•No navyNo navy•Shortage of ammunitionShortage of ammunition•No GovernmentNo Government•Vulnerable Civilian Vulnerable Civilian PopulationPopulation

On the Eve of the RevolutionOn the Eve of the Revolution

LoyalistLoyalist

StrongholStrongholdsds

•Royal Officials•Anglican Clergy•Wealthy with economic ties to England

Washington’s HeadachesWashington’s Headaches

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral].

State/colony loyalties.

Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army.

Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben.

Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies

Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with France.

The American

s

The British

Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.

“Divide and Conquer” use the Loyalists.

Exports & Imports: 1768-Exports & Imports: 1768-17831783

Phase IPhase I:: The Northern The Northern CampaignCampaign[1775-1776][1775-1776]

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Phase IIPhase II::

NY & PANY & PA[1777-1778][1777-1778]

New York City in FlamesNew York City in Flames(1776)(1776)

Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the DelawareDelaware

Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Saratoga: Saratoga: “Turning “Turning Point”Point” of the War? of the War?

A modern-day re-enactment

Phase IIIPhase III:: The Southern The Southern Strategy Strategy [1780-1781][1780-1781]

Britain’s “Southern Britain’s “Southern Strategy”Strategy”

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving.

The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!]

Good US General:Nathanial Greene

The Battle of Yorktown The Battle of Yorktown (1781)(1781)

Count de Rochambeau

AdmiralDe Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:Yorktown:

Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

““The World Turned Upside The World Turned Upside Down!” Down!”

Why did the British Lose?Why did the British Lose?

• Weak British leadershipWeak British leadership

• George WashingtonGeorge Washington

• American People: 1/3 zealous American People: 1/3 zealous patriots who accepted worthless patriots who accepted worthless continental bills to supply the armycontinental bills to supply the army

• French AllianceFrench Alliance

WholesaleWholesalePricePriceIndex:Index:1770-1770-17891789

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783

State ConstitutionsState ConstitutionsRepublicanism.

Most had strong governors with veto power.

Most had bicameral legislatures.

Property required for voting.

Some had universal white male suffrage.

Most had bills of rights.

Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

• Abolished property qualifications for Abolished property qualifications for votingvoting

• No governorNo governor

• Free elementary educationFree elementary education

• No imprisonment for debtNo imprisonment for debt

Occupational Composition of Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesSeveral State Assemblies

in the 1780sin the 1780s

Indian Land Cessions:Indian Land Cessions:1768-17991768-1799

British Indian Allies British Indian Allies AbandonedAbandoned

• Battle of Vincennes: George Rogers Battle of Vincennes: George Rogers Clark defeated Shawnee, Cherokee & Clark defeated Shawnee, Cherokee & Delawares>American claim to Ohio Delawares>American claim to Ohio ValleyValley

• Iroquois leader Joseph Brant Iroquois leader Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) led 4 of 6 tribes to join (Thayendanegea) led 4 of 6 tribes to join British (other 2 joined colonists)British (other 2 joined colonists)

• All Iroquois lost New York land moved to All Iroquois lost New York land moved to CanadaCanada

• No Native American element to treatyNo Native American element to treaty

Women & the RevolutionWomen & the Revolution• Saltpeter & homespunSaltpeter & homespun• Molly PitchersMolly Pitchers• Judith Sargent Murray “On Equality of the Judith Sargent Murray “On Equality of the

Sexes” 1779Sexes” 1779• Abigail Adams & companionate marriageAbigail Adams & companionate marriage• Sought Property rights for single and Sought Property rights for single and

widowed womenwidowed women• New Jersey suffrage for “all property New Jersey suffrage for “all property

holders” until 1807 when “white men only” holders” until 1807 when “white men only” provision added.provision added.

• Republican MotherhoodRepublican Motherhood

Revolution & SlaveryRevolution & Slavery• Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment in Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment in

VirginiaVirginia• 300,000 slaves joined British300,000 slaves joined British• Free Black loyalists relocated to Canada & Free Black loyalists relocated to Canada &

Sierra LeoneSierra Leone• 1782 Virginia manumission act freed 1782 Virginia manumission act freed

10,000 slaves10,000 slaves• Quock Walker sued for his freedom in Quock Walker sued for his freedom in

Massachusetts & won, 1784Massachusetts & won, 1784• Gradual emancipation of slaves in NorthGradual emancipation of slaves in North